Hand-lever mechanism.



C. T. RAY.

HAND LEVER MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED rEB.1a,1911.

Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

i ffii @MRT/nasce ttouwg THE MORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTOJJTHU. WASHINGTON, D C,

C. T. RAY.

HAND LEVER MEGHANISM.

APPLwATIoN FILED PEB.18,1911.

Patented July 28, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LJTNO VVASNINGTON. D. C.

CHARLES T. RAY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO B. F. AVERY 6c SONS, OF

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY.

HAND-LEVER MECHANISM.

T0 all @07mm it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES T. RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jetl'erson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hand-Lever Mechanisms, of which the following is a speci cation.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a hand-lever mechanism which will be most effectively locked in its adjusted position and can be conveniently freed from its locked position and adjusted to a different position.

Another of the important objects ot' the invention is to provide a mechanism having an adjustable member with a means for adjusting said .member and locking it fixedly against movement from its adjusted position, the said means comprehending a bodily and pivotally mounted hand-lever which not only serves as the actuating element in the adjusting oit the members, but further serves as an active element in locking the member against accidental movement from its adjusted position, in that said lever must be moved bodily to unlock it betore it can be moved pivotally to adjust the members, and further comprehending a most conveniently arranged and effective mechanism for adjusting said lever bodily.

These objects and others which will appear from the following description are secured from the construction illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, which exe1nplify what is now regarded to be the best term ot' the invention. The invention, however, is not restricted to the details o1 the herein-exemplified form thereof, as various changes may be made in the illustrated details without departing from the spirit ot' the invention, or the scope oft the subjoined claims.

While the lever mechanism of the present invention is capable of more or less general application, and all of its uses are intended to be comprehended within the scope of the protection delined by the subjoined claims, it is jnirticularly advantageous for use in connection with pivotally mounted members which are to be adjusted thereby and which are subjected to forces tending to move them from their adjusted positions, which forces should be resisted. Cultivators, harrows Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1911.

Patented July 28, 1914. sei-m1 No. 609,347.

and the like will exemplify mechanism which may embody members of the style herein refered to, and hence the use of the present invention as a part o1 a cultivator, a harrow or the like, forms a most useful application of the present invention, and for this reason and also to the end that the ini vention may be most completely understood I` have elected to show it as embodied in a cultivator.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cultivator embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a rear end view of a part of the cl'lltivator; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a part of the lever mechanism, showing different positions thereof in full and dotted lilies, respectively.

Similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.

10 designates a lever having a reverted lower end 11 provided with a lateral projection 12 adapted to engage any one of the downwardly-extending teeth 13 oi a fixed rack 14; ior holding' the lever against movement from a predetermined position to which it has been adjusted. This lever is mounted for longitudinal and pivotal movements, its pivotal movement being for the purpose o1 adjusting some part, with which it is connected, by a link 15 for example, and its longitudinal movement being for the purpose of freeing its projection 12 from and rengaging the same with, the rack 111-. These movements are provided for preferably by forming the lever with a slot 16 which receives a spindle 17 upon which the lever turns when being moved pivotally, the slot extending in the direction of the length of the lever and being o1 such length that the lever may move bodily with reference to the spindle a distance which frees the projection 12 from t-he rack 11. A spring 18 having one end suitably connected with the lever serves to hold the lever in engagement with the rack.

In the illustrated embodiment o1 the invention the rack 14 is in the form of a segment and carries the spindle 17 which projects outward beyond the same, through the slot 16 in the lever 10. Iivotally mounted on this spindle, is a plate, or other suitable device, marked 19, which is shown as provided with outwardly bent ends, to one o't` which the adjacent end o1' the spring 18 is secured. '1`his device moves pivotally with the lever 10 but is held against longitudinal movement therewith. rllhe other end of the spring is, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, connected with the lever 10 by means of a plate 2O which is mounted on the projection 12, the latter being preferably a bolt which extends across the reverted-end portion 11 of the lever and outward beyond the latter. The plate 2O and the link 15 are mounted upon the outwardly-extending part of the bolt so as to move with the lever.

21 designates a rod, one end of which is connected to the bent end of the plate 19 while its other end is connected to the end of a grip piece 22 which has a lateral extension 23 pivoted at 'to the lever 10: whereby movement of the grip piece QQ, towardthe lever 10, being resisted by the rod 21 which is held against longitudinal movement by the plate 19l causes the lever 10 to yield and move bodily against the ltension of the spring 1S, thus freeing the bolt 12 from the segment and permitting the lever 10 to be turned pivotally. r he lever 10 is provided with a gripping portion, marked 24, which is so related to the grip piece 22 that both may be grasped at once and by the same hand, whereby the operations of moving the lever bodily and adjusting the same pivotally are facilitated and rendered most convenient.

1t will be noted that the teeth of the rack are arranged parallel with each other, instead of being disposed radially, and also substantially at right angles to the line of draft, whereby tendency of the lever to be forced out of the notch is prevented, and it will further be noted that any tendency to accidental displacement of the lever from its adjusted position is most effectively resisted by the locking projection and rack, whereby the lever mechanism described serves as a most effective lock against accidental displacement from a predetermined adjusted position of any means whose position it adjusts or controls.

lhis lever mechanism may be most beneficially used as an element of a cultivator, barrow or the like comprising relatively adjustable frames which carry teeth or other soil-pulverizing devices, and its application to such implements is herein exemplified: 25 designating the beam of lthe implement, having handles 2G suitably secured to its opposite sides; and i7 and 28 respectively designating forward and rear members of a frame from which the teeth are supported. ln the particular cultivator selected to eX- emplify the invention, there are two such frames employed, and they extend in opposite directions from the beam and are pivoted to the latter2 the rear members Q8 being pivoted upon a common pivot bolt 37 and the forward members being pivoted upon a like bolt, which is not seen. The two members of each frame are connected with each other by teeth supports spaced apart along the length thereof; 33 designating the teeth supports connecting the members 27 and Q8 of one frame and 35 designating the teeth supports connecting the like members of the other frame, the teeth being marked 33a, 35 respectively. The teeth may be of any suitable kind, but are herein exemplified as detachable blades, said supports and blades constituting a wellknown form of spring teeth, operatively en'- gaged with suitable reinforcing flanged holders 34 and 36. Bracing members 29 and SQ-whose upper ends overlap each other above the beam 25 and are pivoted upon the upper end of the bolt 37-eXtend divergently from the beam 25 and have their outer lower ends pivoted at 38 and 39 respectively to the rear members 2S of the frames near the outer ends of the latter. rllwo of the hereinbefore-described levermechanisms, are preferably employed with this construction, one for each tooth-carrying frame. One of the links 15 extends diagonally outward and downward from the lower end of the lever 10 to one of the forward frame members 27, to which it is pivotally secured at 40, Fig. 1, and the other extends similarly to the forward member 27 of the other frame to which its outer end is pivoted at 41, Fig. 1t will now be seen that when the levers 10 are thrust forward or pulled back, the teeth-carrying frames will be severally moved pivotally rearward -or forward, the said frames being thereby conveniently adjustable to various positions with respect to each other and to the beams and being also locked against any tendency to accidental displacement from their adjusted positions arising from the resistance imposed by the soil against the teeth or blades 33, 35u. Each of the segments 14 is rigidly secured to the beam, preferably by means of a strap 42 which is bolted to the upper surface of the beam at 43 and has flanged ends 44 which are riveted or otherwise securely fastened to the segments. These segments support a shaft 45 whose ends respectively form Athe spindles 17 about which the levers 10 turn, and this shaft is provided with a distance-sleeve 46 which extends from one segment to the other and maintains the latter in their proper spaced relation. The handles 26 are shown as braced by means of bent arms 47 which are secured to the handles and to the sides of the beam 25.

Having now described the invention what 1 believe to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, and what 1, therefore, claim, 1s z# 1. A lever mechanism comprising, in combination, a pivotally adjustable and longitudinally movable lever, elements coperating to hold the lever against pivotal Inovement, one of said elements being movable `with the lever, and means for moving the lever longitudinally, comprising an actuating member which is movable relatively to the lever.

2. A lever mechanism comprising, in combination, a pivotally adjustable lever, elements cooperatingto hold the lever against pivotal movement, one of said elements being movable With the lever, the lever being movable longitudinally to lree said elements from each other and means for moving the lever longitudinally, comprising an actuating .member having pivotal connection with the lever and a member supported to take the strains and cause the lever to yield when said pivoted member is moved.

3. A lever mechanism comprising, in combination, a pivotally adjustable lever, elements cooperating to hold the lever against pivotal movement, one of said elements being movable with the lever, the lever being movable longitudinally to free said elements from each other and means -for moving the lever longitudinally, including a grip having pivotal connection with the lever, a fixed member and a connection between the grip and fixed member, the fixed member being arranged to take the strains imposed thereon by the connection so as to cause the lever to yield when the grip is moved pivotally.

4. A lever mechanism comprising a pivotally-adjustable and longitudinally-movable lever, elements for holding the same against pivotal-movement, adapted to be freed from each other by longitudinal movement oit the lever, and means for imparting such movement to the lever, comprising an actuating member having pivotal connection Withi'he lever and a member having one end connected to the actuating member and its other end connected to a part which is fixed against movement with the longitudinal movement of the lever.

5. A lever mechanism comprising a pivotally-adjustable and longitudinally-movable lever, a rack and a projection relatively disposed to hold the lever against pivotal movement and to be treed from each other by longitudinal movement, a spring for holding the rack and projection in engagement with each other, and means for moving the lever longitudinally against the action ot said spring, comprising an actuating member having pivotal connection with the lever and a member having one end connected to the actuating member and its other end con nected to a part which is fixed against movement with the longitudinal movement of the lever.

6. A lever mechanism, comprising a spindle, a lever provided with a slot which extends in the direction of the length thereof and receives said spindle, a device having pivotal movement upon the spindle and fixed against longitudinal movement with `reference thereto, a rack, a projection from the lever to engage said rack, the projection and rack beine' relatively arranged to be :treed from eac 1 other by longitudinal move ment of the lever, a spring acting to hold the projection in engagement with the rack, and means for moving the lever longitudinally against the action oit said spring, comprising an actuating member having pivotal connection with the lever and a rod having one end pivoted to the actuating member and its other end pivoted to said device.

7. A lever mechanism, comprising a pivotally adjustable lever having a grip portion or handle, means for holding the lever against pivotal movement, having coperating elements adapted to be freed from each other by longitudinal movement of the lever, the lever being movable longitudi nally, a grip having pivotal connection With the lever and so related to the grip portion of the latter that both may be included in the grasp of the operator and means eooperating with the pivoted grip for causing the lever to move longitudinally when said grip is moved pivotally relatively to the lever.

8. A lever mechanism, comprising a pivotally adjustable and longitudinally-movable lever, having a gripping portion o1' handle, means for holding the lever against pivotal movement, adapted to be freed from cach other by longitudinal movement of the lever, and means 'for imparting longitudinal movement to the lever, comprising a pivoted actuating member which is arranged ad jacent to the @ripping portion of the latter, whereby both may be included in the grasp o't' the operator, and means whereby pivotal movement ol" said actuating member toward the gripping portion o't' the lever causes the lever to move longitudinally.

9. A lever mechanism, comprising a pivotally-adjustable and longitudinally-movable lever in combination with a projection from the lever and a rack, coperating to hold the lever against pivotal movement and adapted to be freed from each other by lon gitudinal movement of the lever, the rack having its toothed surface of arcuate form and its teeth disposed substantially at right angles to the line of d aft and in substantially parallel planes.

l0. A lever mechanism comprising a pivotally-:uljustable and longitudinally-movablo lever, in combination with a projection i'rom the lever and a rack, cooperating to hold the lever against pivotal movement, the rack having its toothed surface oi arcuate :t'orm and its teeth disposed in substantially parallel planes, and means having pivotal connection with theilever and adapted when moved pivotally to impart longitudinal movement to the lever and thereby free said projection from the rack.

11. A lever mechanism comprising a pivotally-adjustable and longitudinally-Inovable lever having a reverted end provided with a projection ext-ending across the same, a rack having teeth coperating with said projection to hold the lever against pivotal movement, and means for moving the lever longitudinally to disengage said projection from the rack.

12. A lever mechanism comprising a pivotally-adjustable and longitudinally-movable lever having a reverted end provided With a projection extending across the same, a rack having teeth coperating With said projection to hold the lever against pivotal movement, a spring acting to hold the lever in position which maintains the project-ion in engagement with the rack, and means for moving the lever longitudinally against the action of said spring to disengage said projection from the rack.

13. A lever mechanism comprising a member having an arcuate toothed surface, a spindle projecting from said member, a lever having a slot which receives the spindle and a projection to engage the teeth of said member, a spring acting to hold the lever in position which maintains the projection in engagement with a tooth of said member, and means having connection With said spindle and lever, for moving the lever longitudinally against the action of said spring, to disengage said projection from said tooth.

14. A- lever mechanism comprising a-member having an arcuate toothed surface, a spindle projecting from said member, a lever having a slot which receives the spindle and a projection to engage the teeth of said member, a spring acting to hold, the lever in position Which maintains the .projection in engagement with a tooth of said member, and means for moving the lever longitudinally against the action of said spring to disengage said projection from said tooth, comprising a device pivoted on the spindle and -fixed against longitudinal movement With the lever, an actuating member pivoted to the lever, and a rod pivoted to said actuating member and device.

15. In combination With a frame and a pivoted member to be moved, means 'for locking said member against accidental movement and adjusting the same pivotally, comprising a lever mounted to have longitudinal and pivotal movements, a connection between the lever and said member, and a locking means for said lever and connection coniprising a fixed rack and a projection from the lever, arranged to be disengaged 'from each other by longitudinal movement of the lever, said rack having its teeth disposed substantially at right angles to said connection and in substantially parallel planes.

16. 1n combination with a main support, a member to be moved, pivoted to the main support, a rack, a support for maintaining the rack in lined position, said support being secured to the main support, a spindle proj ecting from the rack, a lever having `a slot which extends in the direction of its length and receives the spindle, a projection from the lever adapted to engage the rack, a link connecting the lever with the pivoted member, and means connected With said lever and spindle for moving the same longitudinally to free the projection from the rack.

17. 1n combination with a main support, a member to be moved, pivoted to the main support, a rack, a support for maintaining the rack in iixed position, said support being secured to the main support, a spindle projecting from the rack, a lever having a slot which extends in the direction of its length and receives the spindle, a projection Jfrom the lever adapted to engage the rack, a link connecting the lever With the pivoted member, a device pivoted to said spindle and fixed against longitudinal movement with the lever, a grip-member pivoted to the lever, a rod connecting the grip-member with said device, said grip-member, rod and device coperating to move the lever longitudinally to free the projection from the rack when the grip-member is forced toward the lever, and a spring operating on the lever to hold the projection in engagement with the rack.

18. 1n combination with a main support, a plurality of members to be moved, pivoted to the main support, a plurality of racks arranged on opposite sides of the main support, and ixedly secured thereto, a fixed shaft carried by the racks and having spindles projecting outward beyond the latter, a plurality of levers each having a projection to engage the adjacent rack, and a slot by Which it is mounted on the adjacent spindle, links connecting said levers with the members, respectively, springs acting upon the levers to maintain the projections in enga gement with the racks, and means having connection with the spindle and levers and operable to move the levers longitudinally to free the projections from the racks.

19. In combination with a main support, a plurality of members to be moved, pivoted' to the main support, a plurality of racks arranged on opposite sides of the main support and fixedly secured thereto, a iiXed shaft carried by the racks and having spindles projecting outward beyond the latter, a plurality of levers each having a projection to engage the adjacent rack, and a slot by which it is mounted on the adjacent spindle, links connecting said levers with the pivoted members, respectively, springs acting upon the levers to maintain the projections in engagement with the racks, devices pivoted on the spindles and fixed against longitudinal movement with the levers, gripmembers pivoted to the levers and rods conneeting the grip-members with said devices.

20. In combination With a main support, a plurality of members to be moved, pivoted to the main support, racks ixedly supported from the main support and provided with downwardly-extending toothed-portions of arcuate form, said racks also provided with spindles projecting outward therefrom, levers having their lower ends provided with lateral projections to engage the racks, respectively, and also having slots by which they are mounted on said spindles so as to be pivotally adjustable and longitudinally movable With respect thereto, springs for holding the levers against longitudinal movement, means having connection With the levers and spindles and operable to move the levers longitudinally, and links connecting the levers with the members to be moved by the levers.

21. In combination With a main support, a

plurality of members to be moved, mounted upon a common pivot carried by the main support, a bracket also carried by the main support, racks fixed to said brackets, said racks having downwardly-extending toothed portions of arcuate form and provided with spindles projecting outward therefrom, levers having their lower ends provided with lateral projections to engage the racks respectively, and also having slots by which they are mounted 0n said spindles, so as to be pivotally adjustable and longitudinallymovable with respect thereto, springs for holding the levers against longitudinal movement, devices pivoted on the spindles and fixed against longitudinal movement with the levers, rods connecting the gripmembers with said devices, and links connecting the levers with the members to be moved by the levers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- W. M. JOHNSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. G. 

